Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 7:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 7:08 p.m.

When Brock Marion was just another young defensive back at the University of Nevada, he was taught an important lesson by assistant coach Mike Bradeson.

Bradeson told him: "‘You're not the biggest, you're not the fastest, you're not the strongest.'" Marion recalled, "‘But if you can be technically sound, if you work at it, you can win.'"

Marion took those words to heart. He went on to enjoy a 12-year career in the National Football League, including three Pro Bowl selections as a Miami Dolphin and two Super Bowl wins as a Dallas Cowboy.

Now Marion, who bought an Ocala blueberry farm after retiring in 2005, will pass along those words — and other lessons from his extensive football past — to a younger generation of football players as St. John Lutheran School's new varsity football coach.

Marion replaces longtime local coach Dennis Meunier, who retired from coaching after the 2012 season.

Marion, a 42-year-old father of six, said the opportunity to coach at St. John, a smaller Christian school, was the first offer that truly spoke to him after turning down several prior chances at other schools to be a varsity assistant.

"I thought about it, prayed about it, and I felt like, yeah, this is a good spot," Marion said. "I try to be a good man of God, try to walk that spiritual walk every day. This gives me an opportunity to actually build in the kids' lives, not just in football. When you can mix both worlds, the two worlds that I love, my faith and football, why not?"

Marion's hiring was the idea of St. John athletic director Antony Fisher, who met the former NFL standout at a charity basketball event last year. Fisher said he was immediately impressed, then put Marion on his short list when Meunier stepped down unexpectedly this past winter.

The two spoke and the rest is history.

"After the conversations went so well with Brock it became a no-brainer," Fisher said. "We're fortunate to have him here."

Fisher said Marion's high football pedigree was just a small part of the decision.

"He has all the football accolades," Fisher said, "but I'll go on record as saying football doesn't define who Brock Marion is. It's the Christian character that does, and that's what's special to us."

Marion, a Bakersfield, Calif., native, has never been a head coach before but can lean on his playing experience as well as the things he picked up from his own long list of former coaches.

From Steve Mariucci (coached Marion in Detroit in 2004): "Attention to detail is what I got from him," Marion said.

From Jimmy Johnson (won Super Bowl XXVIII with Marion in Dallas): "An excellent evaluator of talent. To understand that he can do more because he's got more talent (on his team), but also to discover talent, maybe tweaking an athlete just a little bit. Give them the confidence to try something different."

From Barry Switzer (won Super Bowl XXX with Marion in Dallas): "To be prepared for anything and everything."

From Chris Ault (NCAA Hall of Famer who coached Marion at Nevada): "His desire to build a successful program. He wanted to learn, he wanted to coach and he wanted to give his best at all times. He's the innovator of the pistol offense, so he would evolve with the game. His desire to win, but not really at all costs."

From Mike Zimmer (Bengals defensive coordinator who coached Marion in Dallas): "Taught me how to study film. To break down formations, to look at the game from a different perspective. That taught me, not just in football but in life, to look at things in a different way."

At St. John, Marion said he won't emulate any one particular coach from his past, but instead use them all to form his own identity while keeping an intense focus on building his kids' character.

"I'm not sure which way I'll adapt," Marion said. "But I do know that the key to success is being fundamentally and technically sound in just about everything you do. Get back to your basics and then expand from there.

<p>When Brock Marion was just another young defensive back at the University of Nevada, he was taught an important lesson by assistant coach Mike Bradeson.</p><p>Bradeson told him: "'You're not the biggest, you're not the fastest, you're not the strongest.'" Marion recalled, "'But if you can be technically sound, if you work at it, you can win.'"</p><p>Marion took those words to heart. He went on to enjoy a 12-year career in the National Football League, including three Pro Bowl selections as a Miami Dolphin and two Super Bowl wins as a Dallas Cowboy.</p><p>Now Marion, who bought an Ocala blueberry farm after retiring in 2005, will pass along those words — and other lessons from his extensive football past — to a younger generation of football players as St. John Lutheran School's new varsity football coach.</p><p>Marion replaces longtime local coach Dennis Meunier, who retired from coaching after the 2012 season.</p><p>Marion, a 42-year-old father of six, said the opportunity to coach at St. John, a smaller Christian school, was the first offer that truly spoke to him after turning down several prior chances at other schools to be a varsity assistant.</p><p>"I thought about it, prayed about it, and I felt like, yeah, this is a good spot," Marion said. "I try to be a good man of God, try to walk that spiritual walk every day. This gives me an opportunity to actually build in the kids' lives, not just in football. When you can mix both worlds, the two worlds that I love, my faith and football, why not?"</p><p>Marion's hiring was the idea of St. John athletic director Antony Fisher, who met the former NFL standout at a charity basketball event last year. Fisher said he was immediately impressed, then put Marion on his short list when Meunier stepped down unexpectedly this past winter.</p><p>The two spoke and the rest is history.</p><p>"After the conversations went so well with Brock it became a no-brainer," Fisher said. "We're fortunate to have him here."</p><p>Fisher said Marion's high football pedigree was just a small part of the decision.</p><p>"He has all the football accolades," Fisher said, "but I'll go on record as saying football doesn't define who Brock Marion is. It's the Christian character that does, and that's what's special to us."</p><p>Marion, a Bakersfield, Calif., native, has never been a head coach before but can lean on his playing experience as well as the things he picked up from his own long list of former coaches.</p><p>From Steve Mariucci (coached Marion in Detroit in 2004): "Attention to detail is what I got from him," Marion said.</p><p>From Jimmy Johnson (won Super Bowl XXVIII with Marion in Dallas): "An excellent evaluator of talent. To understand that he can do more because he's got more talent (on his team), but also to discover talent, maybe tweaking an athlete just a little bit. Give them the confidence to try something different."</p><p>From Barry Switzer (won Super Bowl XXX with Marion in Dallas): "To be prepared for anything and everything."</p><p>From Chris Ault (NCAA Hall of Famer who coached Marion at Nevada): "His desire to build a successful program. He wanted to learn, he wanted to coach and he wanted to give his best at all times. He's the innovator of the pistol offense, so he would evolve with the game. His desire to win, but not really at all costs."</p><p>From Mike Zimmer (Bengals defensive coordinator who coached Marion in Dallas): "Taught me how to study film. To break down formations, to look at the game from a different perspective. That taught me, not just in football but in life, to look at things in a different way."</p><p>At St. John, Marion said he won't emulate any one particular coach from his past, but instead use them all to form his own identity while keeping an intense focus on building his kids' character.</p><p>"I'm not sure which way I'll adapt," Marion said. "But I do know that the key to success is being fundamentally and technically sound in just about everything you do. Get back to your basics and then expand from there.</p><p>"That's what we'll do here at St. John."</p><p><i>Andy Marks can be reached at andy.marks@starbanner.com.</i></p>